Event

Southern Culture on the Skids/ Pinche Gringo/ Venus Throw

SCOTS can't help but be a walking, talking storybook of Southern folkways. Formed in 1985 in Chapel Hill, NC, where Miller earned an art degree at UNC, SCOTS debuted with an EP (Voodoo Beach Party). They've subsequently released seven long players: Southern Culture on the Skids (1986), Too Much Pork for Just One Fork (1990), For Lovers Only (1992), Ditch Diggin' (1994), Dirt Track Date (1995), Plastic Seat Sweat (1997) and Liquored Up and Lacquered Down (2000). Now comes Mojo Box!

Raised in Henderson, NC, Miller comes by his countrified credentials honestly, as his father ran a mobile-home factory. He also spent part of his childhood in California, which explains how high-reverb surf guitar and Creedence Clearwater Revival's swamp-rock became audible influences in his writing and playing. Drummer Dave Hartman and bassist Mary Huff are old friends who grew up in Roanoke, Virginia.

Mojo Box was recorded and mixed by the band and Mark Williams outside Chapel Hill, NC at Rick's studio, the "Kudzu Ranch," a big, old cinderblock garage out in the country (the previous owner actually built muscle cars in the same room the bands record in!) It's a big room and you can really hear it on tape. Mark and Rick used plenty of creative mic techniques on the instruments to capture the room sounds. The result is a recording with the edge and presence of the band's live show. Most all the tracking was done to a 16-track, 2-inch tape machine at 15 IPS, and the entire project was mixed to half-inch analog tape. Tube and ribbon mics were the mics of choice for Mojo Box, as were API and NEVE preamps. Yes, folks! Only the best "natural" ingredients available were used in the making of Mojo Box. It is just what the doctor ordered. Listen twice daily and repeat as necessary.